August was the first ever World Basketball Festival and WeAreHQ was invited out to New York City to enjoy the festivities. On our first day there, Nike Town held interviews for Europe and we were there to get involved. Lamar Odom from the LA Lakers and part of Team USA was our first victim of the trip. We were able to find out more about Lamar and what he thinks of the WBF, his expectations for the London NBA game in October and the 2012 Olympics, as well as a few home facts about him and his new wife… Miss Khloe Kardashian!
Let’s get in to the convo…
Lamar, thank you for seeing us. How did it feel to win the NBA championships this year?
What’s funny is, when you win a championship, the feeling is great for that moment. 5-4-3-2-1 you did it… It’s great. Then after the press conferences and the champagne, you kinda have to put it behind you. It does something for you as far as basketball and as far as your confidence, and for how your team thinks- but now the mission is to do it again. So you can carry it with you, but there are some things you have to leave behind.
How important is it for you that Phil Jackson is coming back next year as head coach?
Yeah, it’s very important! Especially for me, (reaching) towards the end of my career than the beginning, but I’m glad he is coming back. It’s funny because even without Phil, his system will still be there on how we do things. I have become more than just a ‘player’ of his, but he is also a friend.
How hard do you think Miami is going to make it for you to make it a Three-peat next season?
It’s going to be tough! But like this USA Team, a lot of people ask me, “What do I think about the other teams?” And honestly- not to be cocky- I don’t! I feel like we do what we need to do and play our game…
OK, so are you planning on coming to check for us in London in October? (NBA Europe game)
Yeah, my whole family will be there. I have a family full of women who love to shop (laughs). I’m pretty sure they are looking forward to that trip. I have never been and I’m looking forward to it myself.
Obviously 2012 Olympics are going to be in London, so it’s a nice warm-up and you get a head start on finding out all the good spots to go to before the rest of the team, right?
(laughs) Yeah for sure, when 2012 comes I hope that I can have my spot on the team and yeah I can let all the guys know where to hang out and have fun, ‘coz I will be a veteran when its comes to going to London! But yeah I am looking forward to that, having the Olympics in London is going to be an amazing experience and I’m sure a lot of people are looking forward to it.
OK, moving away from basketball… Since marrying Khloe Kardashian, how has that changed your life and the media interest in you?
It’s different, I guess ‘coz you have 2 demographics of people coming together. The people that didn’t know about or care about basketball, now know who I am and the people who didn’t ‘keep up with the Karshashians’ now know who she is! We feel like anything is possible for what we want to do or places we want to go and things we want to seek out. It’s cool, but the paparazzi is still something I’m getting used to, but other than that its cool.
So since getting married, do you find yourself doing less washing up and less cooking?!
(laughs) Yeah, a little bit less washing up and less cooking! Well I was never the type of guy who did that…. I always got someone else to do that for me! (laughs)
Shout out to Emrah from Basket.de Germany and UKs newest basketball lifestyle magazine MVP.
YouAre Commenting...